Kevin Norbury

Kevin Norbury was born and raised in the historic market town of Andover, Hampshire, in England. He has spent his life immersed and playing in brass bands and the accompanying culture. Originally from a Salvation Army background, he spent much of his working life in its music publishing activities.

He was musically educated at Royal Holloway, University of London, and subsequently at the Royal Academy of Organists, Royal Academy of Music, and Trinity College of Music, London.

Kevin was privileged to have worked under the mentorship of Ray Steadman-Allen and Leslie Condon. As one might expect, these characters had a huge influence on his musical development.

In January 1998 he moved to New York to assume the role of music editor; a position held previously by Brian Bowen and Peter Graham. His time with the New York Staff Band was especially fruitful with works like ‘Badinage’, ‘Odyssey’, ‘Truth Aflame’ and ‘Proclaimers’.

His work ‘Odyssey’ was used as the European Brass Band Championships test piece in 1999. He composed ‘Spirit of Adventure’ in 2008 for NABBA. ‘Odyssey’ and ‘Variations on “Maccabeus”’ have recently been used as test pieces in the UK.

Kevin moved to Canada in 2001, where he briefly held a position congruent to the one he held in New York. Sadly, it did not last, and he moved back into high school music education in 2002.

He retired from teaching in June 2020, and he and his wife have since moved to Port Rowan on the shores of Lake Erie. He is now the organist at the local Anglican church. They both volunteer for Birds Canada at the Long Point Bird Observatory.

Kevin is a passionate arranger, composer, birder, history buff, reader, and language student. He is a committed piano accompanist and soloist.